www.mybrcc.edu
TITLE: Satisfactory Academic Progress
EFFECTIVE DATE: May 1, 2016
LAST REVISION: April 6, 2016
Policy No. 5.532
Policy Statement
Purpose:
To monitor satisfactory academic progress (SAP) of students using quantitative and qualitative
measures as mandated in federal regulations.
Scope/Background:
The United States Department of Education mandates that students must maintain Satisfactory
Academic Progress (SAP) toward the completion of their degrees within a reasonable period of
time to be eligible for Title IV financial aid programs including Federal Pell, Federal SEOG, and
Federal Work Study. Beginning with the summer 2016 semester, significant changes were made
to regulations that govern SAP Standards.
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is defined as:
 Grade Point Average-Achieving and maintaining a required 2.00 grade point average
 Pace of Progression-Passing a required number of hours (67% of all hours attempted)
and
 Maximum Timeframe-Total attempted hours must not exceed 150% of the published
length of the students’ degree program. Refer to the BRCC catalog at www.mybrcc.edu
for program requirements.
Note: Financial aid appeals are NOT the same as academic appeals. Students may be eligible for
financial aid while academically suspended from Baton Rouge Community College.
Applicability:
This policy and procedures apply to students who are applying or receiving Title IV aid in
accordance with specified legislation.
WHEN IS SAP REVIEWED?
Students will be evaluated at the end of each payment period (semester). At the conclusion of
each payment period, students must earn the minimum cumulative GPA, minimum number of
credit hours, and be within the maximum timeframe. At the time of each evaluation, a student
who has not achieved the required GPA, or who is not successfully completing his or her
educational program at the required pace, is no longer eligible to receive Title IV assistance
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unless the student appeals and is approved and has been placed on financial aid probation.
Students who are on an academic plan will be monitored each semester.
SAP will be reviewed and determined BEFORE aid is disbursed.
SAP will be reviewed based on the official program of record.
HOW IS SAP REVIEWED?
SAP is measured in three ways: (1) Qualitative, (2) Quantitative/Pace, and (3) Maximum Time
Frame
QUALITATIVE MEASURE (GPA)
The qualitative standard is the student’s cumulative grade point average (GPA). The qualitative
standard requires that as the number of hours attempted increases, the student’s cumulative GPA
must also increase. BRCC students must achieve a cumulative GPA of 2.00 at the end of each
payment period (semester)
All grades for attempted coursework will be considered. These include, but are not limited to,
courses passed, courses failed, courses from which the student withdrew (officially or
unofficially), repeated courses, transfer courses, and non-credit remedial/developmental
coursework.
QUANTITATIVE MEASURE/PACE OF PROGRESSION
In calculating the quantitative measure, BRCC will measure the “pace” at which the student is
progressing. This is calculated by dividing the cumulative course hours completed/passed by the
cumulative/total course hours attempted. All students must earn 67 percent of all hours
attempted. BRCC considers cumulative hours completed/earned and hours attempted to
calculate “pace.” Therefore, all courses passed, courses failed, courses from which the student
withdrew (officially or unofficially), repeated courses, transfer courses, and non-credit
remedial/developmental coursework are considered, even if the student did not receive financial
aid.
MAXIMUM HOURS ALLOWED
Students may receive federal financial aid if they have attempted no more than 150% of the
hours required to complete their program. To determine the maximum allowable hours for a
specific program or study, refer to the BRCC catalog at www.mybrcc.edu. Determine the total
number of hours required for the program and multiply that figure by 1.50. (Example: If 60
hours are required to complete the degree program, then multiply 60 hours x 1.50 = 90. The
maximum allowable attempted hours for the degree program in this example = 90 hours.)
Hours attempted includes all hours pursued, earned, withdrawn, and failed. All of these hours
are counted as attempted even if the student did not receive aid.
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HOW OTHER FACTORS PERTAIN TO SAP
“I” GRADES
An “I” (incomplete) will be considered an “F” until a letter grade is assigned in its place.
DEVELOPMENTAL/REMEDIAL COURSES
A student may count up to one academic year’s worth of developmental/ remedial courses in
their enrollment status while receiving federal financial aid. The maximum number of hours that
a student may receive Title IV federal aid for developmental/remedial courses is 30 hours within
12 consecutive months or one academic year. From that point forward, developmental/remedial
hours will not count in the enrollment status and the student will no longer be eligible to receive
federal financial aid for development/remedial classes.
WITHDRAWALS
A “W” grade recorded on the student’s transcript will be included as credits attempted and will
have an adverse effect on the student’s ability to maintain satisfactory academic progress.
Students who officially withdraw from the college must make up the deficit hours and are
encouraged to attend summer school to remove the deficient hours. The successful completion of
a course is defined as receiving one of the following grades: A, B, C or D. Courses with grades
of F, I, U and W will not qualify in meeting the minimum standard.
Official Withdrawal (completely withdraw from all courses) - A student who totally
withdraws (receives all Ws) is considered to have officially withdrawn from the College.
Unofficial Withdrawal - Students receiving Title IV aid and stop attending all classes and
receive all F grades will be treated as unofficial withdrawals. Both types of withdrawals
affect satisfactory academic progress.
ACADEMIC AMNESTY (also known as Academic Bankruptcy)
Academic amnesty (Academic Bankruptcy) does not affect or alter the student’s financial aid
records for financial aid eligibility. All courses, hours attempted, and grades will be counted for
financial aid Satisfactory Academic Progress.
Students who are granted Academic Amnesty (Academic Bankruptcy) may also submit a
financial aid appeal if not making satisfactory academic progress. (See “Re-establishing
Financial Aid Eligibility”)
TRANSFER STUDENTS
Transfer students are required to meet the minimum academic standards set by BRCC in order to
receive Federal Financial Aid. A transfer student must supply the Office of Enrollment Services
with official transcripts from all institutions previously attended, regardless of whether aid was
awarded or credits earned. The academic grades and cumulative hours earned and attempted will
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be reviewed for SAP after the first payment period at Baton Rouge Community College.
ADDITIONAL DEGREES
Students must maintain progress as stated above. Students who are seeking a dual degree, must
be maintaining SAP prior to declaring their second degree.
REPEATED COURSES
A student who has received a failing grade in a required course at the college may repeat and
pass the course unless otherwise indicated by the Registrar or Dean. Students may only receive
federal financial aid for one repetition (repeat) of a previously passed course. Students who have
already passed a course with a grade of a D or better may only repeat the class one additional
time and receive financial aid for that course. All repeated courses are included in the total
attempted hours for SAP evaluation.
CHANGE OF MAJOR
A student may change from one degree to another during attendance at the college. Students who
change from one major to another are still expected to maintain satisfactory academic progress
and complete the course work within the time frame or hours limitation stated unless an appeal is
approved. All attempted hours from a prior major are included in the total attempted hours.
NON-PUNITIVE GRADES
Non-punitive grades will not impact the cumulative GPA component of a student’s SAP status.
However, they will be included in the calculation of the maximum time frame and the pace of
progress (completion rate) components.
PASS/NON-PASS GRADES
Pass/Non-Pass grades will not impact the cumulative GPA component of a student’s SAP status.
However, they will be included in the calculation of the maximum time frame and the
completion rate components.
WHAT HAPPENS ONCE SAP IS REVIEWED?
At the time of SAP review, students will be categorized as follows:
1. GOOD: Student has met progress standards and is eligible for aid for the following
semester or academic year.
2. NEW: Student is attending college for the first time.
3. WARNING: Student who failed to meet SAP after their first semester. Any incoming
transfer student will be placed on warning. Students can continue to receive Title IV
federal financial aid. If students are not meeting SAP after being on warning for one
semester, student will be suspended and will be ineligible to receive financial aid.
4. GRNT: An appeal has been granted based on an Academic Plan. An Academic Plan
is specifically designed for a student whose Federal Financial Aid eligibility has been
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disqualified. The requirements within the Academic Plan must be met to regain
eligibility. See details under Appeal (with an Academic Plan) on page 4. Students will
need to meet the standards of the academic plan each semester until meeting the
Satisfactory Academic Standards.
5. SUSPENSION: Students who are not meeting SAP standards after the second
semester, will be placed on financial aid suspension based on one of the following
statuses.
 GPA: Student did not meet cumulative GPA of 2.00
 GPA67: Student did not meet cumulative GPA of 2.00 and has not earned 67
percent of the attempted hours.
 67PCT: Student did not earn 67 percent of the attempted hours
 MAX: Student has exceeded 150 percent of the total attempted hours of the
published length of the students’ degree program
6. FAILAP: Student did not follow the academic plan. Students in this status are not
eligible to receive financial aid for their next semester of enrollment and are
responsible for making arrangements to pay for all charges. Students may submit a
new appeal after their next semester of enrollment for a reevaluation of future aid
eligibility.
7. DEND: Student submitted an appeal and is denied. Students in this status are not
eligible to receive financial aid for their next semester of enrollment and are
responsible for making arrangements to pay for all charges. Students may submit a
new appeal after their next semester of enrollment for a reevaluation of future aid
eligibility.
NOTIFICATION
At the end of each payment period (where applicable), Satisfactory Academic Progress is
reviewed. Students are notified via self service, LoLA and via email with their updated status.
RE-ESTABLISHING FINANCIAL AID ELIGIBILITY
Should the student choose to “sit out” or attend another school for a period of time, he/she is still
subject to meeting the SAP requirements for the semester in which she/he re-enrolls at BRCC.
“Sitting out” has no bearing on regaining eligibility
Students who do not meet SAP Standards have two options to receive Financial Aid in future
semesters:
1. Attend and regain eligibility for financial aid without the benefit of financial aid or
2. Submit an appeal to the Appeals Committee and receive approval from the Appeals
Committee
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To reestablish financial aid eligibility, a student must enroll and maintain regular attendance.
Should a student choose not to enroll (“sit out”) for a semester, the student must meet the
conditions listed below for re-enrollment.
Attend and regain without the benefit of Federal Financial Aid:
Students may attend at their own expense without the benefit of federal financial aid, attempt and
earn a cumulative 67% of hours attempted and earn the required 2.00 GPA.
Appeal (with an Academic Plan):
If it is clear the student will NOT be able to meet the progress requirements by the end of the
semester the student may appeal. The Academic Plan must be submitted with the Appeal, that
“if followed”, will ensure that the student will be able to meet the BRCC SAP requirements
by a specific point in time, without exceeding 150% of their degree program. The student will
be eligible for aid as long as the student adheres to the Academic Plan. Students who are
following an Academic Plan may need to see the Faculty/Academic Advisor each semester
prior to registering for classes.
If the appeal is approved (with An Academic Plan), the Academic Plan requires 100 percent
successful completion of courses, no D’s, F’s, W’s or I’s, and a 2.00 GPA.
Procedures for submitting an appeal
Students who do not meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards have the right to
submit an appeal to the Appeals Committee. These appeals are generally based on mitigating
circumstances.
Examples of extenuating circumstances maybe defined as, a prolonged illness, accidents that
require hospitalization of the student or a close family member, death of an immediate family
member, or other extreme documented accidents or incidents. Only appeals documenting
specific circumstances will be considered for approval.
All appeals MUST have documentation that corresponds with the type of appeal the student is
filing.
Students may appeal to the Appeals Committee. The student must be able to meet the BRCC
SAP requirements by the end of the semester in which the student is appealing. In addition,
students must:
Complete the Financial Aid Appeal Form (available on our webpage at
http://www.mybrcc.edu/financial_aid/formsandlinks.php) and follow these steps:
STEP 1: Select the type of Appeal
 Grade Point Average or Pace of Progression
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
Maximum Time
STEP 2:
Type an Appeal Statement that explains the extenuating circumstances
STEP 3:
Explain circumstances that kept the student from meeting established standards,
how the situation has changed and plans the student will take to prevent the
situation from occurring again or from affecting the academic progress
STEP 4:
Initial Academic Plan
STEP 5:
Signature Certification
STEP 6:
Notification of appeal status
The Appeals Committee will notify the student of committee’s decision by email within 10-15
business days. If the appeal is approved, the student is placed on an academic plan and is
eligible for aid during the next semester. The student's academic progress will be reviewed at the
end of that semester. If, at the end of the semester, the student does NOT meet SAP
requirements, the student is no longer eligible for federal aid until the student attends at his own
expense and meets all SAP requirement or successfully appeals.
If the appeal is approved, the student will be placed on an Academic Plan meaning the student is
eligible for aid as long as the student adheres to the Academic Plan. The student’s academic
progress will be reviewed at the end of each semester until the student meets all SAP
requirements.


If appeals are DENIED, students are not eligible to receive federal aid and must attend at
their own expense.
The committee's decision is FINAL and cannot be overridden.
Source of Policy: BRCC Office of Financial Aid
Related Policy: Financial Aid SOP
Approved by:
Chancellor Dennis Michaelis
Responsible Administrator: Financial Aid Director
LCTCS Policy Reference: 13026
LCTCS Guideline Reference:
Date:
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Title IV Federal
Financial Assistance:
SAP
12/11/2014